The University of Evansville and the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation’s Medical Professions Academy (MPA) have enhanced their partnership to provide scholarships to MPA students, as well as integrate UE faculty and resources into the MPA program. The partnership also will also help increase the pool of qualified medical professionals in the area.

Through the partnership, students who successfully complete the MPA program and who are admitted to UE will be offered a minimum of $24,000 in annual scholarships with the possibility of more depending on academic credentials. In addition, UE will provide faculty and resources that will help enhance the learning opportunities students receive through the program.

“We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with the University of Evansville with this increased scholarship,” said Dr. Andrew Freeman, MPA and Central High School principal. “This is such an exciting opportunity for us and our students, who will greatly benefit by not only gaining valuable knowledge, skills, and experiences, but also through securing a way to help pay for their post-secondary education. With this partnership, we have the opportunity to make MPA an even better program, and provide more options for our graduates.”

The EVSC created the Medical Professions Academy, housed at Central High School, for high school students interested in pursuing careers in science, health care, and medicine. An integrated science, English, and technology curriculum, paired with hands-on learning and relevant internships and shadowing experiences, prepares students for post-secondary science, medical, and health profession majors. They take courses at both their home high school and also at Central where the MPA courses are offered. Students complete AP courses in the sciences, English language, and psychology and also participate in experiential opportunities at St. Vincent and Deaconess. There are currently 254 students in the 4-year program.

“Students who have completed the EVSC’s MPA program are a step ahead,” said Kenton Hargis, director of admission at UE. “We are excited to partner with such outstanding students and start them on the journey down one of our many health profession career paths.”

Health profession programs at UE include athletic training, clinical laboratory science, exercise science, health service administration, music therapy, neuroscience, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, and public health. Additionally, UE offers a baccalaureate to doctor of medicine program for Indiana residents and beginning in 2021 will offer the Nurse Anesthesia Program (pending accreditation approval).

Direct entry programs are also available for high school seniors in the athletic training, nursing, physical therapy, and physician assistant programs. Pre-professional programs at UE include science, pre-dentistry, pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant science, pre-optometry, and pre-veterinary studies.

“Many of our undergraduate programs can be used as a pre-professional foundation to apply to University of Evansville graduate health programs or those offered elsewhere,” said Mary Kessler, UE’s dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences. “In fact, many students who graduate with an undergraduate degree from UE go on to professional health programs and are now working as physical therapists, physician assistants, physicians, optometrists, podiatrists, athletic trainers, or physical therapist assistants.”